The Washington critic., 1887-01-18

voice, as VIII Enderly stepped to the
edge of the cliff. I'm going down.
"Not you e. exclaimed Jessie. who
stood close beside him. You know
you cannot.
Stand back. say ~ was Wills an.
swer, so sternly given thtt Jessie
shrank back, utterly abashcl. Without
even giving her glance viii threw
of his coat and his shoes The others,
recognizing the master spirit, watched
his motions In silence.
Bring the rope from the swing
here, quick r. he ordered. And, while
strong youths flew to do his bidding,
he threw himself flat upon the ground,
reached his head over the gorge and
shouted cheerily;
Hold on there, Johu III he with
yOu in q minute.
Hurry can't hold much longer, "
came up the faint answer.
Aye, aycl I'm coming shouted
VIII. He sprang TO his feet ms the
rope was brought UP. and knottlng
one. half the long cord firmly about his
waist, had the centre passed round q
stout young tree, near the brink of the
| cliff, ard taking the loose end in his
hand, lowered himself over the clgc.
| Obeying his rapid orders, four strong
fellows let him down the face of the
precipicc until he could reach poor
John. Then he shouted "lloldI' to
those above.
There was a moment OF dcithly still.
ness. Those who dared looked over
the edge of the cliff, watching the scene
below, where win was rapidly knotting
the rope about the helpless form of
poor John. Those who dared not ,
stood back with pale lips and clasped
hands, waiting breathlcssly for the
shout from the gorge.
Ready pull + came at last.
They pulled, ut the word. Slowly,
cautiously, lest the sharp rocks should
cut the frail rope and the figure they
were lifting be dashed to pieces far,
far down the abyss, they pulled, until
at last willing hands reached down to
| lift the faintinE John. aud he was laid
saI, ly upon the ground, with only a
dislocatcd shoulder.
| But his brave rescurer yet danglcd
In the chasm below, and, while some
brought water to restore John to con
seriousness, the rest gave themselves up,
| with bated breath, to the task of draw
ing viii up. He was much heavier
than John. and If the rope should
break, what then! Carefully, gently,
yet firmly, they drew in the cord, hand
over hand, until he could grasp the
edge of the rcck. Then with garments
torn, bruised and bleeding from the
sharp faces of the stones, he was
dragged in and laid scnseluss and eN.
hausted beside John.
At this moment II little figure in blue
came flying up. 1t was Jessie. Knccl.
ing by his side, she caught his bruised
hands, and, bathing them with her
lowing tears, sobbcd out pitcously:
"Oh, VIII, viii, speak to me. For.
give me Oh, forgive poor, foolish
Jessie, my dear, brave WIN"
There seemed to be a spell in the
fearful words more potent than the
cool water with which the others had
dashed his brow. For presently VIII
opened his eyes. looked up into the
sweet anguishcd face bending over
him and said
kiss me, Jessie ~
And Jessie stopped before them all
and laid her soft lips to his.
But she did not care now. She had
| lpNuu liCl HtiVt anu an thC lpNt Nui
gratitude she could shower upon him
would hardly make amends for the
taunts she had hurled at him earlier in
the day.
Tom slunk away. There was no
chance for him now, he new. Jessie
would never be his, and Fern Glen
must ever remain bitter memory in
his mind
Jessie blamed herself for the nearly
fatal occurrence. 1t was in leaning
over to look at the flower, which hld
been the cause Of The quarrel, that John
Freeman fell, and she thought 1t in
cumbent upon her to show both John
and VIII every attention until they
were fully recovered, 10 which they
certainly had no objections. by the timC
he was quite well, VIII had won from
Jessie Il promise to take him for life.
She had found her hero Morning
journal.